HITMAN Willy Aubameyang swears Daniel Cousin can breathe new life into Rangers after seeing him carry a nation to the brink of glory.

HITMAN Willy Aubameyang swears Daniel Cousin can breathe new life into Rangers after seeing him carry a nation to the brink of glory.

Aubameyang has the inside track on Cousin – and Scottish football. He played for Kilmarnock and after quitting Rugby Park last summer he teamed up with his pal at Sapins in their native Gabon.

He then watched in awe as Cousin fired the international side to a level of success in the African Nations Cup no one would have dared predict.

Playing up front alongside Aubameyang’s kid brother, Pierre, he helped co-hosts Gabon rack up three straight wins against Niger and former African champs Morocco and Tunisia.

Their amazing run ended only last Sunday when they were KOd by Mali in a penalty shoot-out after their quarter-final ended 1-1.

If Cousin hadn’t cracked the ball off a post and Pierre hadn’t missed the crucial spot-kick the striker might still have been in Libreville preparing for tomorrow’s final instead of rejoining Rangers. Aubameyang is convinced his buddy will lift the clouds of gloom hanging over Ibrox even though he is now 35.

Last night the former Killie star said: “I was not surprised to hear Daniel is going back to Glasgow. He loved the passion of the crowd at Ibrox.

“Maybe it is not the best time for Rangers but Gabon were not expected to do anything either and we went to another level.

“Sure he is 35 and maybe not as quick as he was but he is still very strong and his technique is good as he showed in the African Nations Cup.

“He linked with Pierre superbly. Daniel showed the right spirit of a leader. Even though he did not play in the first match against Niger he did not make a fuss despite being Gabon’s captain.

“Pierre scored a great goal in that game then he and Daniel both scored in our 3-2 win over Morocco in front of 40,000 fans in Libreville. It was maybe the greatest game in Gabon’s history. Daniel was one of the first Gabonese players to move to Europe and make it in the big leagues.

“When he joined Rangers for a lot of money in 2007 he put Gabon’s name into people’s minds and inspired a lot of younger players to do the same. He was a great example.”

Aubameyang’s last act in a Killie shirt was to score the goal against Motherwell last May that sealed fifth place in the SPL and he is convinced Cousin has enough goals in him to keep the title at Ibrox.

He said: “Daniel is still a good goalscorer but the fact he knows Scottish football will make it easier for him to settle there right away.

“Defenders never have an easy game when he is there. He showed he could play well in the Premier League with Hull. That’s the top level so I think this is a good move by Rangers.”

Cousin has clashed with Gabon coach Gernot Rohr.

The former Bordeaux manager hooked the striker after an hour of the game against Mali.

Cousin said: “I heard the coach said I asked to be subbed. This is false. It was not me. I was ready to play the whole game.

“After the other games I was not 100 per cent. But even at 50, 60 or 70 per cent I could bring something to the team. It’s a shame, especially since we led 1-0 at the time.”

Rohr said: “With Cousin it’s always about him. His only concern is himself.

“I felt he was no longer able to help us late in the game so I subbed him.